Venturi cleaning system

ABSTRACT

A system using a secondary cleansing fluid achieves a fully functional irrigation and cleansing system for a medical container and associated tubing and adapter. A connection to a standard interior faucet, using pressurized water in conjunction with a negative pressure device, creates siphoning of a secondary fluid into fluid contact with the water for mixing. In addition, the system provides for an efficient connection for the associated tubing of less than half an inch in diameter for filling, cleansing, and flushing.

This application is a CIP of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/605,670, filedFeb. 2, 1996 entitled UROSTOMY PATIENT EQUIPMENT IRRIGATION SYSTEM nowU.S. Pat. No. 5,735,301.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates, in general, to cleaning patient medicalcontainers and tubing and more specifically: colostomy bags, tubing,irrigation systems and stoma cone; urostomy bags and associated nightdrainage containers; nasal-gastric tubes; male and female urinarycatheters, associated tubing, drainage collection containers andsystems; incontinence bedside and leg containers, tubing and systems,and ileostomy drainage containers.

Cleansing and deodorizing medical storage containers and connectedtubing and systems is often difficult for the users of such devices. Thedifficulty presents itself during manipulation, filling and flushing ofthe container using its adapter, tubing and drain. For example, medicalwaste storage tubing has an internal crossection that is typically lessthan one-half inch in diameter, making cleansing not an easy task.

The prior art has failed to provide for an efficient means ofirrigation, cleansing, and deodorizing of medical waste storagecontainers and systems.

2. Discussion of Prior Art

In order to provide background information so that the invention may becompletely understood and appreciated in its proper context, referencemay be made to a number of prior art patents as follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,503 to Wellman is concerned with an apparatus forcleaning body waste bags with water through the use of a faucet divertervalve. This patent proposes a diverter valve with internally threadedattachment to the faucet for diverting water from normal faucet flow tochannel the flow through a reduced size opening attached to the connectoutlet tube of the waste bag, thereby providing a means of washing thebag with water. This patent does not address the irrigation with anyother cleansing or deodorizing fluid except faucet water under itsassociated pressure. The present invention assists in cleansing thecontainer with a mixture of water and a secondary cleansing fluid bymeans of a negative pressure action on the secondary fluid provided bythe pressurized water.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,419,495 to Berfield provides for an auxiliary chemicalintake system for a pressure washer having a spray nozzle in fluidcommunication with a pressurized water source and either an internal orexternal fluid tank or both tanks. This patent provides a complexapparatus by which the fluid agent in the external tank may be adifferent fluid and its rate of introduction into the water stream isvariable under the control of several variable diameter apertures. Thispatent does not provide for the rapid easy attachment of the device to astandard interior faucet water supply, nor for the attachment of smalldiameter tubing required to flush containers. The patent also lacks afluid container designed to minimize the cleaning/deodorizing fluidwaste and reduce the possibility of accidental spillage. The patentrequires fluid flow rates and pressures to operate that far exceed thosefeasible with typical medical waste containers and associated tubing.Operating at these pressures and flow rates could cause prematurefailure of any of the tubing, bag or connections. The present inventiondistinguishes itself therefrom by using a faucet adapter intake tube forthe water intake and an adapter tip at the fluid mixing end of thesystem to allow for efficient adapting to the tubing of the medicalwaste storage container for cleaning, deodorizing and flushing andproviding a container specifically designed for the reduction ofcleansing/deodorizing fluid waste and accidental spillage. The simplesingle fluid internally attachable container of the present invention isin fluid communication with the pressurized water.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,215,132 to Parker discloses methods and apparatus fordistributing liquid solutions employing a water jet pump and adapter forconnection to an ordinary garden hose with ordinary pressurespecifically for liquid fertilizer application to lawns within limits ofprescribed concentrations. The liquid fertilizer solution is housedprimarily in a stationary pail. This is inadequate for use withnasal-gastric tubes containers because it is susceptible to spillage andto liquid waste due to settling in the inaccessible regions at thebottom of the pail. The water jet pump device is internally threaded tobe secured to the exterior faucet and externally threaded to accept atypical garden hose with a nozzle spray attachment at the terminal end.The patent requires fluid flow rates and pressures to operate that farexceed those feasible with the medical waste storage bag and tubing.Operating at those pressures and flow rates could cause prematurefailure of any of the tubing, bag or connections. The present inventiondistinguishes itself therefrom by using an interior faucet adapterintake tube for the water intake and an adapter tip at the fluid mixingend of the system to allow for efficient adapting to the tubing with adiameter of less than one-half inch connected to the medical wastestorage night container for cleaning, deodorizing and flushing. Thepresent invention also provides an internally attachable cleansing fluidcontainer specifically designed for the reduction ofcleansing/deodorizing fluid waste and accidental spillage.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,724,583 to Targosh et al. provides a hose apparatus withliquid mixing nozzle for connection to a primary liquid supply pressuresource, such as water, to a secondary liquid which embodied a mixing anddischarge nozzle especially designed to mix the liquids and aerate thesame in the nozzle for a homogeneous mixture of liquids. The patentrequires fluid flow rates and pressures to operate that far exceed thosefeasible with the medical waste storage bag and tubing. Operating atthose pressures and flow rates could cause premature failure of any ofthe tubing, bag or connections. The present invention distinguishesitself therefrom by not requiring a complex aspirator mixing value inthe nozzle for aeration and variable homogeneous flow mixing nozzle andby providing an internal container designed to reduce waste and preventspillage. The present invention further distinguishes itself by having asimple interior faucet adapter intake tube for the water intake and anadapter tip at the fluid mixing end of the system to allow for efficientadapting to the tubing of a diameter, typically less than one half aninch, connected to the medical waste storage night container forcleaning, deodorizing and flushing.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,468 to Davenport provides a spray mix applicatordesigned particularly for commercial cleaning purposes by the mixing andspraying of a mixture of two liquids at a prescribed flow rate in aprescribed proportion to each other. The system discloses a complicatedseries of flow-control valve, check flow valve, on-off valve, fittings,couplings and spray tip for connection to an industrial size externaldrum of secondary fluid. This invention provides a spray mix applicatorfor threaded attachment to a standard water hose and will spray themixture of two liquids in a prescribed proportion to each other. Thepresent invention provides for attachment to the interior water supplyfaucet and a venturi means of providing the suction and fluid mixingeffect, coupled with a simple efficient adapter tip for connection totubing typically less than a half inch in diameter. The presentinvention also provides a fluid container designed for minimal waste andspill prevention.

U.S. Pat. No. 1,416,347 to Gregory describes a bottle which is ofpyramidal three-sided angular design for preventing spillage and havingan inner bottom surface in vertical alignment with its mouth and adepression to collect the remainder of fluid when the bottle is nearlyempty. The present invention provides a simpler single stage conicalfluid container designed for tip and spillage prevention combined with asimple concave interior bottom surface of the fluid container's base forminimal fluid waste.

U.S. Des. Pat. No. 211,563 to Cherry provides for a bottle with a twostage conical design with a single nonthreaded lip, approximately onefourth the diameter of the internally convex base. The presentinventions' container distinguishes itself by a single stage conicaldesign with a threaded neck whose diameter is, in the preferredembodiment, one half of the diameter of the base with its associatedconcave internal base.

U.S. Design Pat. No. 99,136 to Newman for an ink bottle with a singlestage conical design with a nonthreaded circular neck approximately onehalf the diameter of the base with an internal elliptically concave basethat begins approximately one half the height of the bottle. The presentinvention distinguishes itself by having a secondary fluid containerdesigned with both a threaded neck and a concave internal base that isapproximately five sixths the distance from the neck, thereby maximizingthe fluid volume of the container while still providing minimal fluidwaste.

Whatever the precise merits, features, and advantages of the above citedreferences, none of them achieves or fulfills the purposes of themedical waste storage patient equipment irrigation system of the presentinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention toachieve a fully functional irrigation and cleansing system for medicalcontainers and in a preferred embodiment, medical waste storage patientnight drainage containers and associated tubing and adapter. Thedisclosed system provides for an efficient connection to a standardinterior faucet using pressurized water in conjunction with a negativepressure device to create siphoning of a secondary fluid into fluidcontact with the water for mixing. In addition, the present inventionprovides for an efficient connection for the night container tubing ofless than half an inch in diameter for filling, cleansing, and flushing.

It is another principal object of the present invention to provide acontainer for the deodorizing and cleansing fluid that will minimizefluid waste and be tip and spill resistant while providing a large fluidcapacity.

The medical waste storage patient equipment irrigation system of thepresent invention overcomes the problems and limitations of cleansingand deodorizing the medical waste storage night fluid container that isconnected to the normal medical waste storage pouch with an adapter andtubing of less than one half an inch. The night container bag and itsassociated tubing and adapter require a daily cleaning and flushing withwater and a deodorizing fluid. The manual method of filling, flushingand deodorizing the night medical waste storage container is difficultbecause of the manipulation required to fill and flush the containerusing a regular interior water faucet and the night containers' tubing,valve, and drain of less than one-half an inch in diameter.

The present invention provides for a connection to an ordinary interiorfaucet pressurized water source and for an efficient system for filling,cleansing, and flushing the night container through the tubing andvalves of less than one half an inch in diameter.

A system will be described for the suction and fluid mixing of thecleansing deodorizing secondary fluid with a negative pressure devicefrom a container that is designed for minimal waste, easy attachment anddetachment, tip and spill resistance, and a large fluid capacity.

The present invention contains the following design elements providingthe following features:

a flexible intake tube for a simple, secure, and efficient connection toan ordinary faucet water supply; attachment to a venturi tube providingsuction for a secondary cleaning fluid where the venturi tube is influid connection with the pressurized primary fluid water to providemixing with the secondary cleaning fluid; the secondary fluid containerthreaded cap attached to the venturi tube providing a secure and easyattachment and detachment of the cleansing/deodorizing fluid container;a vent hole in the threaded fluid container cap providing the secondarycleansing fluid at atmospheric pressure; secondary cleansing fluid feedtube attached to the venturi tube at a point providing negative pressurefor the suction of the cleansing fluid from the container positionedsuch that the feed tube lays at the center of the internal concave basefor minimal waste of the cleansing fluid; and an adapter tip connectedat the distal end of the venturi tube designed for simple, secure,efficient connection to the night medical waste storage containers'small tubing of less than one half inch in diameter; and a secondarycleansing fluid container designed for easy attachment and detachment,large fluid capacity, and tip and spillage resistance.

The secondary cleansing and deodorizing fluid container is designed witha threaded neck for a secure easy attachment and detachment feature, aninternal concave base for minimal waste of the cleansing fluid, a onestage conical design with a base twice the diameter of the top and theinternal concave base at approximately five sixth the distance from thetop for a large fluid capacity while also providing the tip and spillresistance feature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a pictorial representation of the present inventionconnected to the pressurized water source, secondary cleansing fluidcontainer and the connection to night container tubing for filling,cleansing, and flushing.

FIG. 2 depicts a schematic diagram of the fluid flow within the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 depicts a pictorial representation of an incontinence or urostomyleg bag.

FIG. 4 depicts a pictorial representation of an urinary incontinencebedside drainage collection system.

FIG. 5a and 5b, each depict a pictorial representation of medical wastestorage associated tubing adapters.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 provides the overall pictorial representation of the presentinvention and is composed of a flexible intake tube, designated 10,providing connection to the interior water faucet, designated 5, for asource of the primary pressurized fluid water. The flexible intake tube10 is connected at the opposite end to the proximal end of a venturitube, designated 20, which is connected at the bottom edge to aninterior threaded cap, designated 30, providing for a secure connectionof a secondary cleansing fluid container, designated 50. The secondaryfluid feed tube, designated 40, is attached to the venturi tube 20 nearthe distal end at a point providing negative pressure in the tubedrawing the secondary fluid up into the tube by means of the negativepressure suction and providing the secondary fluid contact with intakefaucet water for mixing at the outlet point in the venturi tube 20. Thefeed tube 40 draws the secondary fluid in at a point in the center ofthe concave internal base, designated 56, providing for minimal waste ofthe fluid. The threaded cap 30 has a vent hole, designated 35, toprovide the secondary fluid at atmospheric pressure. The mixture of theprimary fluid water mixed with the secondary cleansing and deodorizingfluid exits the distal end of the venturi tube 20 mixed together andflows into an adapter tip, designated 60 that fits securely and easilyto the night medical waste storage container tubing, designated 70, ofless than one half inch in diameter. The tip may be of various shapesand sizes depending on specific equipment requirements. The mixture ofwater and cleansing fluid is flushed into the night container 80 (not toscale) and then drained out 81.

The secondary cleansing and deodorizing fluid container, designated 50,comprises a threaded neck, designated 52, is approximately one half thediameter of the base, designated 58, and provides a secure attachment tothe threaded cap, designated 30. The threaded design also allows forsimple attachment and detachment of the fluid container for refillingpurpose. The fluid container 50 is of a one stage conical design withthe base 58 twice the size of the threaded neck 52 (not shown) providinga tip and spill resistance shape. The internal concave base, designated54, is approximately one sixth the height of the fluid container 50 andprovides for a place to draw the fluid into the feed tube, designated40, at the center of the concave internal base, designated 56, providingfor minimal fluid waste. This feature combined with the single stageconical design of the fluid container 50 gives the invention a largesecondary cleansing fluid capacity.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram depicting the fluid flow within thepresent invention. The primary fluid source is the pressurized water atthe faucet, designated 5, which flows through the flexible intake tube,designated 10, into the venturi designated 20. The purpose of theventuri 20 is to provide a tapered area starting at the venturi inlet,designated 22, that increases the pressure to a center point, designated24, of minimal diameter and then tapering back to the inlet diameter atthe distal end of the venturi tube outlet, designated 26. Thisconfiguration provides a negative pressure producing the suction at thesecondary cleansing fluid feed tube exit point in the distal end of theventuri tube 20, producing mixing of the primary fluid water with thesecondary cleansing fluid as the mixed fluid exits out the adapter tip,designated 60. The suction produced at the point where secondary feedtube 40 enters into the distal end of the venturi tube 20 draws thecleansing fluid in the cleansing fluid container, designated 50, at acenter point, designated 56, of the concave internal base 58. The venthole, designated 35, in the threaded vent cap enables the top of thesecondary cleansing fluid to remain at atmospheric pressure. Thecleansing fluid flow is thereby always towards the concave center point56 when the invention is maintained in the normal upright position andproduces minimal waste of the secondary fluid when cleansing andflushing the medical waste storage night container.

Possible materials for the device may include, but should not be limitedto, any plastic, hard rubber, glass, ceramic or composite that allows arigid form; any metal that may be shaped either in a mold or throughtooling, laser carving or other manner sufficient to produce thenecessary form.

Possible methods of construction may include, but are not limited to, asingle one piece molded venturi, cap and secondary fluid feed tube. Theventuri may be an integral part of the cap or produced separately andattached through any reasonable method during the manufacturing process.The venturi tube, cap and feed tube or whole assembly may be produced inany part, section, split or division, including modifying the outershape of the distal end of the venturi tube as an adapter tip to allowdirect connection to the patients tubing, thereby removing the need fora tubing connection between said distal end and the adapter tip.

An additional method of construction would be to separate the venturitube from the cap entirely and place it in-line in the water line. Aflexible secondary fluid feed tube could then be used with any fluidcontainer attaching to the in-line venturi and drawing the secondaryfluid from said container. The only restriction being necessity tomaintain atmospheric pressure on the surface of the secondary fluid inthe container. In this case, a cap would not necessarily be required.Given this scenario, the apparatus could be used with any secondaryfluid container including secondary fluid storage container (i.e., thebottle it came in). While this would function, it would not have theoptimum advantage of tip resistance, as well as minimum secondary fluidwaste.

FIG. 3 illustrates an incontinence leg bag structure 100 with associatedfasteners 110. The incontinence bag is cleaned using the presentinvention as previously described above. Female connector 120 receivesthe male adapter tip 60 of the downstream side of venturi 26 and flushesthrough a stream of cleansing fluid. Emptying valve 81 allows theremoval of fluid from the system. The bag structure 100 can beconfigured in many forms such as an incontinence leg bag. Otherequivalent medical waste storage containers worn on a patient's body areenvisioned without departing form the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a urinary incontinence bedside drainage collectionsystem, including bag 200. The incontinence bag is cleaned using thepresent invention as previously described above. Male connector 220receives a female configured adapter tip 60 from the downstream side ofventuri 26 and flushes through a stream of cleansing fluid. Emptyingvalve 81 allows the removal of fluid from the system. The bag structure200 can be configured in many forms with other equivalent medical wastestorage bedside containers envisioned without departing form the scopeof the present invention.

FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate two examples of tubing adapters which may beused with the present invention. FIG. 5a illustrates connecting adaptertip 60 to a larger diameter Stoma cone 500. The Stoma cone is used toflush solid waste from patient's Stoma and intestine. Connecting theconnecter tip 520 to the present invention enables cleansing thereof.FIG. 5b illustrates a multi-tipped adapter, in this case urinarycatheter tubing, which can be cleaned by connection to the presentinvention through connecters 60 and 530. Various equivalent sized andmultiple tipped adapter's and associated tubing can be attached to thepresent invention without departing form the scope thereof.

The following list summarizes various pieces of medical waste storageproducts and associated tubing which may be cleaned by the presentinvention. Please note that these are illustrative of the applicabledevices but should not be limited thereto. All equivalent medical wastecontainers would function properly with the present invention.

A. Male and female urinary catheters, tubing and containers

Use: Urinary drainage

Contents: Urine

Cleaning Requirement: Daily, Each use.

Replaced: Periodically, As necessary

B. Urinary drainage collection systems

Use: Urinary drainage

Contents: Urine

Cleaning Requirement: Daily, Each use.

Replaced: Periodically, Monthly, As necessary

C. Colostomy irrigation systems, tubing and stoma cone

Use: Flushing colostomy stoma and portion of intestine

Contents: Water, cleansing solution

Cleaning Requirement: Daily, Each use.

Replaced: Long term use, As necessary

D. Urostomy night drainage container and tubing

Use: Urinary drainage

Contents: Urine

Cleaning Requirement: Daily, Each use.

Replaced: Periodically, Monthly, As necessary

E. Urostomy drain tubes

Use: Urinary drainage

Contents: Urine

Cleaning Requirement: Daily, Each use.

Replaced: Periodically, Monthly, As necessary

F. Incontinence bedside drainage collection systems

Use: Urinary drainage

Contents: Urine

Cleaning Requirement: Daily, Each use.

Replaced: Periodically, Monthly, As necessary

G. Incontinence urinary leg bag and tubing

Use: Urinary drainage

Contents: Urine

Cleaning Requirement: Daily, Each use.

Replaced: Periodically, Monthly, As necessary

H. Ileostomy night drainage collection systems

Use: Ilium drainage

Contents: Semi solid waste

Cleaning Requirement: Daily, Each use.

Replaced: Periodically, Monthly, As necessary

I. Nasal gastric tubes (NG tubes)

Use: Nutrient intake

Contents: Nutrient supplements, liquids

Cleaning Requirement: Daily, Each use.

Replaced: Periodically, Monthly, As necessary

CONCLUSION

A system and method has been shown in the above embodiments for theeffective implementation of a medical container cleaning system. Whilevarious preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will beunderstood that there is no intent to limit the invention by suchdisclosure, but rather, it is intended to cover all modifications andalternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims. The invention should not belimited by size, materials or manufacturing methods. In addition,equivalent connectors and tubing structures may be substituted toperform similar functions.

What is claimed:
 1. A medical container cleaning system for cleansing and deodorizing said medical container and associated tubing with a secondary cleansing fluid comprising:a medical container and associated tubing; a first connection to a primary fluid pressurized water source; a venturi tube operatively connected to said first connection; a secondary cleansing fluid container and secondary fluid feed tube operatively connected to venturi tube an adapter tip connected to a distal end of said venturi tube for operatively connecting said medical container and associated tubing to said secondary cleansing fluid, and wherein said adapter tip interfaces the dimensions of said distal end to the dimensions of said medical container and associated tubing.
 2. A medical container cleaning system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said adapter comprises a tapered design for connection to said medical container tubing of less than one half an inch in diameter.
 3. A medical container cleaning as set forth in claim 1, wherein said medical container and associated tubing comprises at least one from the group of: colostomy bags; irrigation systems; stoma cones; urostomy bags; night drainage containers; male and female urinary catheters; incontinence bedside and leg containers, and ileostomy drainage containers.
 4. A medical container cleaning system for cleansing and deodorizing said medical container and associated tubing with a secondary cleansing fluid comprising:a medical container and associated tubing; a first connection to a primary fluid pressurized water source; a venturi tube operatively connected to said first connection; a secondary cleansing fluid container and secondary fluid feed tube operatively connected to venturi tube; an adapter tip connected to a distal end of said venturi tube for operatively connecting said medical container and associated tubing to said secondary cleansing fluid; wherein said adapter tip interfaces the dimensions of said distal end to the dimensions of said medical container and associated tubing, and wherein said medical container and associated tubing comprises at least one from the group of: colostomy bags; irrigation systems; stoma cones; urostomy bags; night drainage containers; male and female urinary catheters; incontinence bedside and leg containers, and ileostomy drainage containers.
 5. A medical container cleaning system for cleansing and deodorizing said medical container and associated tubing with a secondary cleansing fluid comprising:at least one medical container and associated tubing; a first connection to a primary fluid pressurized water source; a venturi tube operatively connected to said first connection; a secondary cleansing fluid container and secondary fluid feed tube operatively connected to venturi tube an adapter tip connected to a distal end of said venturi tube for operatively connecting said medical container and associated tubing to said secondary cleansing fluid, and wherein said adapter tip interfaces the dimensions of said distal end to the dimensions of said medical container and associated tubing.
 6. A medical container cleaning system as per claim 5, wherein said medical container and associated tubing comprises a nasal-gastric device. 